SAU Sports Information
Southern Arkansas senior outfielder Trevor Rucker has been named as one of 12 finalists for the 2017 Tino Martinez Division II Player of the Year Award.
Already tabbed as the Central Region Player of the Year and first-team all-region by the National Collegiate Baseball Writer’s Association (NCBWA) and the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association (D2CCA), Rucker is currently the only player in all NCAA College Baseball with at least 20 doubles, 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases. Additionally, he is one of just three players in all of NCAA College Baseball to reach the 20 or more mark in home runs and doubles with the other two hailing from the DI ranks.
The unanimous GAC Player of the Year, Rucker ended his career at Southern Arkansas with an emphatic bang as he posted career bests as a senior in Batting Average (.393), Runs Scored (67), Hits (77), Doubles (20), Triples (4), Home Runs (20), RBIs (49) Slugging Percentage (.842), and On-Base Percentage (.498).
Furthermore, Rucker’s season totals rank him in the Top-25 of DII in six (6) categories - Slugging % (2nd), Hit-By-Pitch (2nd), Total Bases (3rd), Home Runs (7th), Runs Scored (15th), and Doubles (21st).
Totaling 44 extra-base hits (20 doubles, 4 triples, 20 home runs), Rucker’s 20-home run campaign is the second-most in a season at SAU, and vaulted him to the top of the all-time list as he ended his standout four-year career with 42 home runs.
The first baseball player in GAC history to be a four-time All-GAC selection (2016 - HM, 2015 - HM, 2014 - 2nd-Team/Freshman of the Year), Rucker sits atop seven (7) major offensive categories in the GAC - Slugging %, On-Base %, Runs Scored, Doubles, Home Runs, Total Bases, and Hit-By-Pitch.
For his career as a Mulerider, Rucker hit .341 (261-for-766) with 200 Runs Scored, 54 Doubles, 11 Triples, 42 Home Runs, 154 RBIs, 100 stolen bases, a slugging percentage of .604 and an on-base percentage of .430.
The 2017 Tino Martinez Award finalists are Nick Beinlich, Belmont Abbey; Brandon Benson, Georgia College; Justin Childers, Ohio Dominican; Ryan Colombo, Drury; Tyler Curtis, Lynn; Connor Hoover, North Georgia; Bligh Madris, Colorado Mesa; Pablo O'Connor, Azusa Pacific; J.D. Osborne, Tampa; Trevor Rucker, Southern Arkansas; Zack Shannon, Delta State; and David Vinsky, Northwood.
Tino Martinez is a former University of Tampa Spartan, United States Olympian, first-round draft pick and Major League Baseball All-Star.
Martinez was a three-time All-American and still holds a number of UT records including career home runs (54), career slugging percentage (.736), career on base percentage (.494), single season batting average (.452) and single season slugging percentage (.957).
While he wore a Spartan uniform Tampa advanced to their first NCAA Division II National Championships (1986 and '87) and won their first of twelve SSC Championships ('87). Martinez was elected to the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013.
Current LSU head coach Paul Mainieri has been quoted as stating Martinez was, "the best player I've ever coached against".